What is the future of Ambassador?

sbasak · 9th February 2006, 16:32

I am bit surprised that almost no discussion made here regarding our very own Ambassador.

HM still produce these cars and recently launched several facelift versions (in www.hmambassador.com, the Avigo looks good).

Did anyone here try them?

To me, it seems still one of the most practical car on Indian roads.

Any opinions from the BHPians?

Aditya · 9th February 2006, 17:17

I test drove the Avigo when it was launched almost two years ago.
While the idea seems fine, the execution is pathetic.
The alloy wheels are fine and the paint job and overall exterior finish is better than earlier models. However, it's still not close to the other cars that you can get for a similar price. On the inside, the fit and finish of the interior is horrid. Dials are not fitted straight, the ashtray can cut someone's fingers, the switches are flimsy and the window winders feel like they could break any second. One feels, HM could have done better even if they had lifted fittings off the Contessa's interior and fitted them here. The leather seats are OK. On the move, the engine feels smooth and powerful enough to cruise on our roads. The brakes and handling are an improvement over previous models. Still, always remember, this is an old design. It will never handle or stop like a new generation car. The AC cools well, but there is no heater.
Overall - AVOID! If you really want an Ambassador, go for the chrome draped Classic. I'm sure HM can fit the Avigo's disc brakes and alloy wheels on it.

Abhay · 9th February 2006, 18:06

Well you asked an opinion, but it may not agree with you ;-)
IMO, the Amby is better off NOT being on our roads.

Zappo · 9th February 2006, 18:40

Actually Ambassador survives on two main clientele... The govt offices who still buy this car (ok, even that is dwindling now) and then the Cab wallahs on the streets of Kolkata and elsewhere. Besides these Amby hardly has any client except for those once in a blue moon kind of amby-crazy guys who walk into their showrooms (if you can call them that).

But, in my opinion Amby does remain the most practical car in the rural parts of this country even today. And it sells there as well to some extent.

chullan_no1 · 9th February 2006, 18:57

i agree with zappo.... i think may b there will be 1AMBI/1000 cars bought for private use....

Rudra Sen · 9th February 2006, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zappo

Actually Ambassador survives on two main clientele... The govt offices who still buy this car (ok, even that is dwindling now) and then the Cab wallahs on the streets of Kolkata and elsewhere. Besides these Amby hardly has any client except for those once in a blue moon kind of amby-crazy guys who walk into their showrooms (if you can call them that).

You forgot to add me on your list

The Wolf · 9th February 2006, 20:56

The Amby website is the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life....they market their Avigo by saying somthing like this:
YOU'LL BE TALKED ABOUT.
MOSTLY BEHIND YOUR BACK.
The Avigo is not your everyday assembly line beauty. And neither is it a mindless hunk of machinery put together by equally mindless robots.The Avigo is a labour of love.
A work of automobile artistry, inspired by a mans relationship with his car. A relationship that knows no logic.No rationale. Just a lovely warm feeling in the gut that makes. Each and every nerve ending crave for it. Thats right. The Avigo is not about a car.
It is a bond you forge with the most lovable car on indian roads.
We could continue to tell you about the virtues of the Avigo in technology and car parlance. But deep in our hearts we know that no amount of sellling can make you take her home. Yes, you will definitely come across some words of discouragement from a mundane few. But then, who cares?
So all we want to tell you is... just listen to your heart. Listen carefully as you run your fingers over the Avigos beautiful curves.. as you touch her for the very first time.
If you hear a soft pounding unlike anything you've ever heard before,you'll know... this is the moment of truth! You've discovered the Avigo.
And your heart wants it

Man , the website has 1million typo errors and the best yet most hillarious part is that they are marketing MPFI technology and Power steering as if its some cutting edge technology today...poor guys man!!!

SLK · 9th February 2006, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

But deep in our hearts we know that no amount of sellling can make you take her home.

Its better off the roads!
Though they can do some improvements if they focus on commercial use (taxi)... .. probably a deeper boot!

devarshi84 · 9th February 2006, 23:51

I see The ambassador beeing sold in year 3000 for even more price than a mercedes.

It will be the car to have sold highest units ever.

HM will have bought GM by then

GTO · 11th February 2006, 20:56

The Ambassador, being a 6 decade old design, is better off in a museum than on the roads.

GTO

bigman · 11th February 2006, 21:38

I think the design is still OK. It still looks good and catches the eye. I was speaking with someone from Delhi a few years ago who organises car hire for tourists. He said he had lost count of the number of times tourists had rejected new cars (Safari, Qualis etc) in favour of an Ambassador. The design has that special X factor which attracts people who are used to driving modern fancy cars like BMWs and Mercs every day. Maybe this does not apply if you have grown up seeing this car every day.

Mpower · 11th February 2006, 21:40

We live in a free market (now) and the customer has many choices to make.

So, really the market should decide the fate of the car. The fact that its still surviving is a testament to the solid design of the car and HM continious improvement programe

egangsta · 12th February 2006, 17:34

Listen folks i do agree its a old car and trying it to compare it with the cars on sale now isnt fair.talk about comfort and space it has ample of it and the old models the body is damm strong,its true the company hasnt changed the designs but just a few cosmetic changes here and there isnt enough for it to compete with the models on sale today..its high time they did stop the present models and get something new leaving aside the foreign tieups,how about something totally indigenous,which is something that i very much doubt they will be able to do for example their tieup for the RTV.you hardly get to see any of them,god aone knows if they are still on sale or no.

Cheers...

nitrous · 12th February 2006, 19:11

Slowly, the Amby cabs are being replaced by Indicabs.
Govt is phasing out old Ambys for the Sumos,Mahindras,etc.

To answer the question,
HM might sell till the Govt. keeps ordering.Then, like GTO said, it would become a vintage in a museum

narasimha raju · 13th February 2006, 00:26

I still feel that Amby is the good car for Indian rural roads. I felt very comfortable with Amby on rural roads compared to new gen sedans.

9th February 2006, 16:32	#1
sbasak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CCU-LTN Posts: 608 Thanked: 14 Times	What is the future of Ambassador? I am bit surprised that almost no discussion made here regarding our very own Ambassador. HM still produce these cars and recently launched several facelift versions (in www.hmambassador.com, the Avigo looks good). Did anyone here try them? To me, it seems still one of the most practical car on Indian roads. Any opinions from the BHPians?
	() Thanks

9th February 2006, 17:17	#2
Aditya Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 17,841 Thanked: 77,069 Times View My Garage	I test drove the Avigo when it was launched almost two years ago. While the idea seems fine, the execution is pathetic. The alloy wheels are fine and the paint job and overall exterior finish is better than earlier models. However, it's still not close to the other cars that you can get for a similar price. On the inside, the fit and finish of the interior is horrid. Dials are not fitted straight, the ashtray can cut someone's fingers, the switches are flimsy and the window winders feel like they could break any second. One feels, HM could have done better even if they had lifted fittings off the Contessa's interior and fitted them here. The leather seats are OK. On the move, the engine feels smooth and powerful enough to cruise on our roads. The brakes and handling are an improvement over previous models. Still, always remember, this is an old design. It will never handle or stop like a new generation car. The AC cools well, but there is no heater. Overall - AVOID! If you really want an Ambassador, go for the chrome draped Classic. I'm sure HM can fit the Avigo's disc brakes and alloy wheels on it.
	() Thanks

9th February 2006, 18:06	#3
Abhay BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 727 Thanked: 11 Times	Well you asked an opinion, but it may not agree with you ;-) IMO, the Amby is better off NOT being on our roads.
	() Thanks

9th February 2006, 18:40	#4
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,922 Thanked: 2,699 Times	Actually Ambassador survives on two main clientele... The govt offices who still buy this car (ok, even that is dwindling now) and then the Cab wallahs on the streets of Kolkata and elsewhere. Besides these Amby hardly has any client except for those once in a blue moon kind of amby-crazy guys who walk into their showrooms (if you can call them that). But, in my opinion Amby does remain the most practical car in the rural parts of this country even today. And it sells there as well to some extent.
	() Thanks

9th February 2006, 18:57	#5
chullan_no1 BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: trivandrum (but now frm singapore) Posts: 34 Thanked: 0 Times	i agree with zappo.... i think may b there will be 1AMBI/1000 cars bought for private use....
	() Thanks

9th February 2006, 20:56	#7
The Wolf Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,118 Thanked: 71 Times	The Amby website is the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life....they market their Avigo by saying somthing like this: YOU'LL BE TALKED ABOUT. MOSTLY BEHIND YOUR BACK. The Avigo is not your everyday assembly line beauty. And neither is it a mindless hunk of machinery put together by equally mindless robots.The Avigo is a labour of love. A work of automobile artistry, inspired by a mans relationship with his car. A relationship that knows no logic.No rationale. Just a lovely warm feeling in the gut that makes. Each and every nerve ending crave for it. Thats right. The Avigo is not about a car. It is a bond you forge with the most lovable car on indian roads. We could continue to tell you about the virtues of the Avigo in technology and car parlance. But deep in our hearts we know that no amount of sellling can make you take her home. Yes, you will definitely come across some words of discouragement from a mundane few. But then, who cares? So all we want to tell you is... just listen to your heart. Listen carefully as you run your fingers over the Avigos beautiful curves.. as you touch her for the very first time. If you hear a soft pounding unlike anything you've ever heard before,you'll know... this is the moment of truth! You've discovered the Avigo. And your heart wants it Man , the website has 1million typo errors and the best yet most hillarious part is that they are marketing MPFI technology and Power steering as if its some cutting edge technology today...poor guys man!!! Last edited by The Wolf : 9th February 2006 at 20:58.
	() Thanks

9th February 2006, 23:51	#9
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	I see The ambassador beeing sold in year 3000 for even more price than a mercedes. It will be the car to have sold highest units ever. HM will have bought GM by then
	() Thanks

11th February 2006, 20:56	#10
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,534 Thanked: 300,738 Times View My Garage	The Ambassador, being a 6 decade old design, is better off in a museum than on the roads. GTO
	() Thanks

11th February 2006, 21:38	#11
bigman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NA Posts: 1,224 Thanked: 93 Times	I think the design is still OK. It still looks good and catches the eye. I was speaking with someone from Delhi a few years ago who organises car hire for tourists. He said he had lost count of the number of times tourists had rejected new cars (Safari, Qualis etc) in favour of an Ambassador. The design has that special X factor which attracts people who are used to driving modern fancy cars like BMWs and Mercs every day. Maybe this does not apply if you have grown up seeing this car every day. Last edited by bigman : 11th February 2006 at 21:45.
	() Thanks

11th February 2006, 21:40	#12
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	We live in a free market (now) and the customer has many choices to make. So, really the market should decide the fate of the car. The fact that its still surviving is a testament to the solid design of the car and HM continious improvement programe
	() Thanks

12th February 2006, 17:34	#13
egangsta BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: thane Posts: 365 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	Listen folks i do agree its a old car and trying it to compare it with the cars on sale now isnt fair.talk about comfort and space it has ample of it and the old models the body is damm strong,its true the company hasnt changed the designs but just a few cosmetic changes here and there isnt enough for it to compete with the models on sale today..its high time they did stop the present models and get something new leaving aside the foreign tieups,how about something totally indigenous,which is something that i very much doubt they will be able to do for example their tieup for the RTV.you hardly get to see any of them,god aone knows if they are still on sale or no. Cheers...
	() Thanks

12th February 2006, 19:11	#14
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Slowly, the Amby cabs are being replaced by Indicabs. Govt is phasing out old Ambys for the Sumos,Mahindras,etc. To answer the question, HM might sell till the Govt. keeps ordering.Then, like GTO said, it would become a vintage in a museum
	() Thanks

13th February 2006, 00:26	#15
narasimha raju BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 128 Thanked: 54 Times	I still feel that Amby is the good car for Indian rural roads. I felt very comfortable with Amby on rural roads compared to new gen sedans.
	() Thanks